Since the City of Port Adelaide Enfield publicly declared its support for an increase to Newstart in August, six more South Australian councils have joined the push to boost this meagre allowance. Pas Forgione reports.

ACROSS SOUTH AUSTRALIA, local governments are sticking up for their residents who are out of work and living in poverty, as part of a grassroots campaign led by Anti-Poverty Network SA (with support from SA Council of Social Service and Uniting Communities).

Since early August, when the City of Port Adelaide Enfield in Adelaide's northern suburbs became the first Council – not in South Australia, but in all of Australia – to publicly support an increase to Newstart Allowance, six more Councils – three metropolitan and three regional – have also decided to advocate for financial relief for struggling unemployed people, for seven Councils overall.

The City of Playford, with 5,700 unemployed residents, for an unemployment rate of 14%, has the highest level of unemployment of any local government in South Australia — in fact, one of the highest unemployment rates of any local government in Australia. Within its boundaries is the Holden factory, scheduled to close in mid-October — an event that will only exacerbate the serious, long-term jobs crisis facing SA.

The power of the campaign lies in the dedication and courage of local job-seekers, who called, emailed, and met with their mayors and councillors; who willingly shared their stories of financial and personal hardship, and job-searching in a depressed labour market, as Wendy, Sarah, Claudia, Brendan, Bonnie, Amethyst, and Aidan did; who fliered, postered, letterboxed and door-knocked; and, critically, who showed up at council meetings in large numbers, often composing over half the audience, to keep their representatives accountable.

It has been claimed by some that since Newstart is a Federal issue, councils cannot, or should not, take public positions on this payment, nor whether or not it is adequate. This stance is the somewhat widespread "roads, rates, and rubbish" conception of local government. It is a narrow, conservative vision, one worth rejecting.

Why shouldn't local governments advocate on behalf of their residents, represent their interests and values (even if the issue is outside their jurisdiction)? Particularly their residents who have the least power and resources.

Perhaps it a sign of how undemocratic, remote and inaccessible the other two levels of government are perceived to be – and are – their lack of responsiveness to the wishes of ordinary people, the greater extent to which big business dominates the political agenda and the deep bipartisan consensus that exists across so many issues that citizens are turning to councils to be their voice on many important matters.

In any case, there should not be any doubt that poverty and unemployment are local issues. The low rate of Newstart has profound impacts on job-seekers, whose mental and physical health, quality of life and ability to effectively search for work suffers while on the payment. It also has profound impacts on local communities, local economies and on council community services, whose programs increasingly – particularly with repeated government cuts to the charity sector – support those who are struggling.

How can a significant part of the community being impoverished, being unable to eat well and regularly, being unable to afford to leave the house often, being excluded from their community, their social supports and networks, having no disposal income to circulate through local businesses, not be a local issue?

THE CITY OF SALISBURY EXPERIENCE

Anti-Poverty Network SA activists outside the City of Salisbury council chambers (Image supplied)

Unfortunately, not all Councils have agreed that the disadvantage experienced by unemployed residents on Newstart is something about which they should be concerned. The City of Salisbury, with 6,300 unemployed people, for an unemployment rate of 9%, twice refused Anti-Poverty Network SA's request to speak at a Council meeting. Both times we were told that the issue was “outside the Council's jurisdiction” and therefore not something it could hear about.

Incredibly, even while other Councils were passing motions on Newstart and writing to Social Services Minister Christian Porter and Human Services Minister Alan Tudge, a push was needed, simply to start a conversation with the Salisbury councillors.

Things came to a dramatic head on the night of Monday 25 September. Over 30 unemployed people and other welfare recipients, representing all five of Anti-Poverty Network SA's branches, packed the gallery at Salisbury Council with signs and placards to watch Council pass a motion presented by Councillor Beau Brug (overruling Mayor Gillian Aldridge, who previously refused our speaking requests), allowing local job-seekers to address the October Salisbury Council meeting.

On Monday 23 October 23, Anti-Poverty Network SA returns and, hopefully, Salisbury Council will join the growing number of South Australian councils standing up for their unemployed residents by sending a strong message to the Federal government and the rest of the community about the need for Newstart to be raised.

Ashbygate Book

Support IA

Recent Comments

Special Features

About Us

Independent Australia is a progressive journal focusing on politics, democracy, the environment, Australian history and Australian identity. It contains news and opinion from Australia and around the world. [ read more ]